Dear Lev Borisovich!

About your last letter we must, of course, agree to the end, without any misunderstandings.

First, you are wondering why a few months ago I had to make a decision that deprived you of your monthly diet, even if only a small one. The circumstances of the case were as follows. At the meeting with Koba1 it was "stated" that we had only a thousand and two crowns of all the old money left. This sum had to be left untouched for C-kist work, at least the most modest. "Pravda" also sent us nothing for about two months. Its affairs were very shaky, and every effort was made to get rid of losses. The prospects were not at all cheerful. That is why I had to write to you with a heavy heart: "Seek to earn a living" - advice which, of course, is easier to give than to carry out. - You knew all these facts yourself.

We in Krak[ove] could not, of course, even think of earning a living. And in general, of course, the division between Kraków and Paris resulted in certain "privileges" for us. When "Pravda" recovered somewhat and began to pay us 200 rubles a month again, there was only hope of keeping the base. Shall we divide 200 rubles for three? We thought about it. But neither I nor V[ladimir] I[lich] could live on 67 rubles, having nothing else. Some debts had accumulated. Then we thought that by paying line by line in "Pr[illumination]" and "Prav[de]" you would earn at least the same amount of money. you'd earn at least the same amount.

Now, how things stand now. We are addressing Pravda today with the following proposal. They have expanded the format, they must, of course, also allocate new expenses for employees. You are the first of the necessary employees. You must be guaranteed a minimum fee of 75 rubles per month. You guarantee a minimum of 5 articles per week and in addition take over the literary-critical[ese] department. If Maklakov does not choke, then in the summer, without the Duma, with an enlarged format, there will be more than enough space for the three of us. We will have to write a lot. We think that Pravda will agree - unless repression cuts in.

"Enlightenment", of course, doesn't pay well. What can you do? There is no money. If the Kievan woman doesn't get it (she promised), we'll have to be tough.

Here is the situation. In Pravda, as you know, not everything depends on us. There's the Economic Commission and so on. But there are no reasons not to accept our proposal. If they don't accept it, we'll think of another way out. The money situation is extremely difficult. The school2 will soon be upset because of money.

Not to write to you in "Pr[avda]" and "Enlightenment" would, of course, be absurd. None of them, in any case, has any malicious intent. And as for "Enlightenment". You're being too picky. He's not abusing it. It's been proven. If he doesn't let them in, it would be because of absolute lack of space.

For myself and Gregory.

Your N. Lenin.

Fond 2, op. 1, d. 3059 - letter - autograph of G.E.Zinoviev, signature - autograph of V.I.Lenin.

1After the end of the Krakow meeting of the Central Committee of the RSDLP with party workers (January 1 (14), 1913) was held a closed session of the Central Committee on the issue of the newspaper "Pravda", which adopted a resolution written by Lenin "On the reorganization and work of the editorial board of Pravda" (see: Lenin V.I. Complete Collected Works, vol. 22, pp. 269-270).

Apparently, during this meeting Lenin had a conversation with Stalin (Koba).

2 The Central Committee of the RSDLP planned to organize a school in Zakopane (Poland) for members of the Bolshevik Duma and some party workers during the summer break in the sessions of the IV State Duma. Classes were supposed to begin in mid-June 1913. However, the school was not organized.